Method of finishing rounds



June 20, 1933.

G. A. WISE METHOD OF FINISHING ROUNDS Original Filed Oct. 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR June 2Q, W33

G. A. WISE METHOD OF FINISHING ROUNDS Original Filed 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E 2 z w b m /4TL /4 fl4\ 1 Ya Emu 1 E u fl Q 3 av 3 Q Q 5 W The best rounds Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT orl-lcr.

ENGNEEBING COMPANY, A

CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA METHOD OF FINISHING BOUNDS Application filed October 7,

This invention relates to a method of de-' scaling, sizing, rounding up, straightening, and polishing solid or hollow metallic rounds by a continuous progressive and 5 automatic operation.

As round bars and tubes come from a hot mill, orother devices producing similar material, they are not true to size, are not round, carry scale, and are not straight. (which term throughout the specification and claims will be used to designate both solid bars and tubes) are therefore, as initially produced, not sultable for certain purposeswhich. require material that is clean, straight, polished, and approximates -true roundness and accurate size. It has, therefore, been previouspractice to manufacture round sections for'these purposes by such methods as drawing, cold rolling, or turning and POllShlIlg. These methods are all slow and expensive.

My invention provides arapid and economical method of producing round sections which are straight, clean and polished and which are within a narrow tolerance both as toaccuracy of section and. size. The

' method is a continuous one so that rounds. descaled, -are brought are straightened,

' closer to true section and diameter, and are polished by a continuous, progressive, and automatic operation.

- cording to my method thus approximate in their qualities those produced by the slow and expensive drawing and cold rolling methods, and are more accurately straight than any drawn round sections which are straightened according to general practice.

I approximate the accuracy in section and diameter which may be obtained by drawing, and the highest degree of straightness and polish, by a method which produces finijshed bars at a rate many times that at which they may be produced by drawing or turning methods. r

v More specifically I enter the rounds. initially into one ing cross rolls, which initially break the scale on the stock, which initially straighten it to facilitate treatment during the later ofthe process, and which serve as polishing,

Rounds finished ac-' or more sets of str'aighten-.

1930, Serial No. 487,021. Renewed December 1, 1932.

feeding rolls for the instrumentalities acting upon it in the later stages of the process.

These initial cross rolls pass the rounds to a steel blast for descaling and removing some of the surface metal of the stock, and through the steel blast to rounding, straightening, and polishing-passes. The blast may obviously be of a suitable abrasive other than steel, steel being in general the preferredabrasive.

Because the stock is fed positively to the passes in which it is subjected to relatively great pressure for truing, it is unnecessary that bars be pointed or swaged for introduction into the truing passes. Because the stock is subjected to scale breaking and straightening before being subjected to the blast, the blast operates more efliciently in removing scale from the stock, and also if desired in" removing some of the surface metal. Because the descaling and scouring of the stock is followed by a rounding and any surface abrasions or irregu-' larities caused by the blast are smoothed out and eliminated in the final stages of the rocess. v

It should be understood initially: that my entire method is a straightening one, the stock being initially straightened for introduction to the blast, and the straightening action is progressively continued throughout its rounding and polishing. In the accompanying drawings Figure I shows diagrammatically an arrangement of rounding, straightening and polishing rolls which may be utilized in conducting the method of my invention; Figure 11 is a generally similar view illustratinga varying contact surface of the rolls to produce the rounding efiect; Figure III is 9. diagrammatic section through a blast constituting one of the instrumentalities employed 1n conducting mymethod; Figure IV 1s a diagrammatic plan view of a complete installation capable of conducting my method;

and Figure V is a diagrammatic side elevation of such installation.

In conducting my methodythe bars, or .hollow rounds, are introduced into the feedown axis. It is also desirable that they have a relatively great, surface contact with the stock, in order to break efiiciently the scale thereon.

With the installation shown, the stock is forced by the rolls 1 into the primary set 2 of reducing cross rolls, and is subjected to the steel blast 3 as it progresses. From the primary set 2 the stock passes by uninterrupted progression through other sets 4 and 5 of cross rolls.

The general arrangement of these sets 2, 4, and 5 may be any suitable arrangement, although each is shown as comprising two pairs of cooperating cross rolls and an intermediate idler roll. The only general reblast scours tolerance, by

quirement is that the rolls be so arranged as to exert a straightening effect as the stock is rounded, trued in section, and polished.

As scale is broken length of the stock, it progresses, with the scale broken, past the blast. Primarily the the stock and tears off the scale which has been alreadybroken and loosened on it. As the round section is rotated about its own axis, all points on the periphery of the stock are subjected equally to the scale breaking and blasting actions; and as it has also been subjected to a preliminary straightening, it may be passed close to the mouths of blast nozzles 6 so that the blasting step may be most efiiciently conducted. For the latter reason, the size and number of the nozzles, and the pressure at which the blasting material is delivered, will be a minimum for the desired purpose.

Where bars are over size they may be out down so that theyare within the specified the blasting step of the process. The cutting efiect of the blast for this purpose may increased in several Q Thus, the longitudinal speed of the stock may be decreased by decre'asin the speed of the rolls. The regulation 0 speed may be made in any desired manner, but is conveniently made by regulating the speed of a variable speed motor, or motors, driving the rolls. The decreased speed at which the stock progresses through the blast obviously rigsults in an increased cutting action by the b ast.

Other modes of regulating the blast action are effected by regulation of the blast it self. Thus the 'number of nozzles in action and the pressure at which they deliver abrasive may either be increased, or the size of the nozzles may be increased to the progressively along the cutting effect. The most convenient manner of regulating the cutting by the blast itself is to provide initially more nozzles than are necessary for a normal descaling and scouring step, and cutting in the requisite additional number of nozzles for'the desired trimming down of the stock.

Itshould be understood that the blasting step does not aifect the sectional contour of the stock to produce a true round from stock which is initially out of round. For example .We will assume that a bar is eight thousandths of an inch over size, and seven thousandths out of round. Assuming that the tolerance for size is four thousandths, and that the stock is cut down so that it may be brought within this tolerance by the subsequent operations, seven thousandths out of round. The rounding up is effected subsequent to the blasting or cutting step in the complete performance of the finishingprocess.

The stock is pitted by the blast, and these surface irregularities also are remedied by the subsequent steps of the process.

As the forward end of the stock progresses past the steel blast, it is entered between the initial pair of cross rolls of the set 2. In this respect the primary set 1 ofirolls serves as feeding rolls for the set 2, and the stock is thus positively entered.

The idler roll 7 of the entering pair of rounding and reduction cross rolls is so contoured as to have a narrow contact A with its cooperating driven roll 8. 'The stock is is so contoured that it also has a narrow contact with its cooperating driven roll 10, although the contact B is wider than that of the entering pair.

In the second set 4 of rolls the contact C of idler 11 with its driven roll 12 is appreciably wider than that of idler 9 with its roll 10, and the bearing D of idler 13 with its driven roll 14 is wider than that of the pair immediately preceding. This set of rolls therefore performs an initial smoothing efiect on the stock, although it continues to some degree the rounding and reducing effect of the first set 2.

In thefinal set 50f cross rolls the final smoothing and polishing step is performed; the first pair 15 and 16 having a bearing E wider than the -bearing D, and the final pair 17 and 18 having the widest bearing F.'

It should be understood that the stock is subjected to high entire working portion of the process, which follows the blasting step. In the initial pair of cross rolls, the bearing being least, the

the stock is still.

which comprises the idler 9 and pressure throughout the effective pressure is greatest. In succeeding passes ly decreased in favor of a wider area of contact for smoothing and polishing.

5 In the installation shown, each of the without the relief afforded by placing it under tension.

The stock may be placed under tension in several ways. One such way of producing the tension is the progressively increased area of contact surface of succeeding pairs of rolls. This in itself tends to produce increased speed of longitudinal travel of the stock as it progresses, and thereby places the stock under tension. Another way in which the tension to which the stock is subjected may be produced or increased 30 is to make the rolls (in the installation disclosed each driven roll of a pair) of pro- .gressively increased diameter. That is, the

driven rolls 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, a progressively increased diameter. This ,pro-

sults in a tendency toward progressively increased speed of longitudinal travel of the stock, and in the typical installation shown supplements the tendency toward increase I longitudinal speed resulting from, the pro-- of contact with gressively' increased areas the stock. u

As illustrated, a progressive increase in contact area in successive pairs of cross rolls is obtained by graduated roll contour to secure this result. It may, however, be obtained by a progressive adjustment of the' angle at which succeeding pairs of cooperating rolls are crossed. When the rolls are contoured to give progressively increased contact surfaces, the angular adjustment may still be utilized to effect a final regulation of the areas of contact, and to accommodate for various runs of stock which differ in size.

It may rough, unfinished be stated generally, thatgI take rounds of steel or other material, and operating on the stock while it is cold, so treat the stock that its surface is freed from scale, and it is sized, rounded, straightened, and polished. In the case of solid rounds, or bars, the stock is then ready for immediate shipment. In the case of hollow rounds, or tubes, the finishing is complete except for possible interior scale;

the effective pressure is progressivestep is injurious to and 18 are of gressive, increase in roll diameter also red of the stock,

.sirably,

which, if present, has been broken and is in condition for ready removal. These results are obtained by an automatic, continuous, and rapid process, and without detriment to "the qualities of the material in the rounds so treated.

It should be observed that the process eliminates the slow and laborious operations, and repeated handling of stock, encountered in producing pollshed, straight, round sections by the methods now in use. For example, in the cold drawing process,

it is the practlce that the stock be subjected to pickling baths for the removal of scale and neutralization of acid, to pointing in a pointing machine or in the drawing die, to slushing, that is coating with a lubricant for drawing, ing, the stock must be cropped, this cropping being a machine operation which involves the discarding of a substantial amount of material. The stock is also straightened, either before or after crops ping, and coated for protection against rust. In my method the equivalent of all these operations'is effected during a single passage of the stock. I

and to drawing. After draw A It is further a fact that the cold drawing the metal, because of the excessive severity of the working in the drawing die. My method thus in practical effect produces finished stock, physically superior to cold drawn stock.

The process may be conducted by'various instrumentalities, variously arranged. I For example, applicatlon of the pressure 1n a spiral path may be obtained by rotating the pairs of cooperating rolls about the axis instead of rotating the stock about its own axis.

Further, when the bar is'rotated about its own axis, it is possible to obtain the desired result by the application of. the principles of the present process to roll installations of various types. For example I may employ a cross roll v installation in which all the rolls are driven, and an installation in which all rolls are driven and are also angularly adjustable.

As concerns the intermediate pressure roll illustrated in each set of rolls herein, this may be replaced by a pair of cooperating rolls. This pair may be both driven, both idle, or one driven and one idle. They de-. but not necessarily are so mounted that they may be angularly adjusted. They are, necessarily, so mounted that they cooperate with each other, pairs of rolls in producing a straightening eflect. i

It is a further important advantage of the process that the surface compression produced by the cold working of the stock results in' a marked increase in the fatigue strength of the metal. This is true not only and with the other ing rounds which comprises causing simul-- taneous rotation and longitudinal progress of the stock, feeding the stock while exerting a straightening effect thereon past blasting instrumentalities, continuing the progress of the stock while continuing its rotation under tension effective in the direction of its longitudinal travel, and as the stock progresses exerting uninterruptedly thereon pressure applied upon areas of progressively increased width.

2. The herein described method of finishing rounds which comprises causing simultaneous rotation and longitudinal progress of the stock while exerting a straightening efiect thereon past blasting instrumentalities, continuingthe progress -of the stock while continuing its rotation under tension effective in the direction of its longitudinal travel, as the stock progresses exerting uninterruptedly thereon pressure applied upon areas of progressively increased width, and so directing the pressure thereon that a straighteningtendency is present throughout the progress of the stock.

3. The herein described method of finishingrounds which comprises causing simultaneous rotation and longitudinal progress V of the stock while exerting a straightening efl'ect thereon past blasting instrumentalities, continuing the progress of the stock while continuing its rotation-under tension effective in the direction of its longitudinal travel, and as the stock progresses exerting uninterruptedly thereon pressure so directed that a straighteningeffect is present throughout the progress of the stock.

4. The herein described method of finishing rounds which comprises sub'ecting the stock to scale cracking pressure, eeding the stock uninterruptedly as the scale is progressively broken thereon past blasting instrumentalities, continuing the longitu inal progress of the stock while rotating it upon its longitudinal axis under tension effective in the direction of its longitudinal travel, and as the stock progresses exerting uninterruptedly thereon pressure so directed that a straightening eflect is present throughoutthe progress of the stock.

5. The herein described method of finishing rounds which comprises 'sub'ecting the stock to scale cracking pressure, eeding the stock uninterruptedly as the scale is progressively broken thereon pastblastin instrumentalities, continuing the longitufinal progress of the stock while rotating itupon is progressively broken on it, continuing the longitudinal progress and rotation of the stock under tension effective in the direction of its longitudinal travel, and' as the stock progresses exerting uninterruptedly thereon pressure so directed that a straightening effect is present throughout the progress of the stock.

7. The herein described method of finishing rounds .which comprises subjecting the stockto scale cracking pressure so directed as to exert 'a straightening effect on the stock while simultaneously rotating it upon its longitudinal axis and feeding it longitudinally past blasting instrumentalities as the scale is progressively broken on it, continuing the longitudinal progress and rotation of the stock under tension effective in the direction of its longitudinal travel, as the stock progresses exerting uninterruptedly thereon pressure applied upon areas of progressively increased width, and so directing the pressure on the stock that astraightening tendency is present throughout the progress of the stock.

, 8. The herein described method of finishing rounds which comprises sub'ecting the stock to scale cracking pressure, eeding the stock uninterruptedly as the scale is progressively broken thereon past blasting instrumentalities, continuing the longitudinal progress of the stock while rotating it upon its longitudinal axis, as. the stock progresses exerting thereon pressure applied upon areas of progressively increased width, and so directing the pressure on the stock that a strai tening tendency is resent throughout t e progress of the stock.

9. The herein described method of finishing rounds which comprises subjecting the .stock to scale cracking pressure so directed as to exert a straightening effect on the stock while simultaneously rotating the stock u' on its longitudinal axis and longitudinal? strumentalities .as the scale is progressively broken on it, continuin the longitudinal progress and rotation 0% the stock, as the stock progresses exerting uninterruptedly thereon pressure applied upon areas of proy feeding the stock past blasting ingressively increased width, and so directing the pressure on the stock that a. straightening tendency is present throughout the progress of the stock.

10. The herein described method of finishing rounds which comprises causing simultaneous rotation and longitudinal progress of the stock with the stock under tension effective in the direction of its longitudinal travel, as the stock uninterruptedly progresses exerting thereon pressure applie upon areas of progressively increased width, and simultaneously throughout the progress of the stock subjecting it to a succession of cross roll straightening steps in which the stock is acted upon by flexing forces producing a straightening bend or wave.

11. The herein described method of finishing rounds which comprises causing simultaneous rotation and longitudinal progress of the stock, feeding the stock while exerting a straightening eiiect thereon past blast ing instrumentalities, thereafter causing simultaneous rotation and longitudinal progress of the stock under tension eflective in the direction of its longitudinal travel, as the stock progresses exerting uninterruptedly thereon pressure applied upon areas of progressively increasing width, and simultaneously throughout the progress of stock subjecting it to a succession of cross roll straightening steps in which the stock is acted upon by flexing forces producing a straightening bend or wave.

12. The herein described method of finishing rounds which comprises subjecting the stock to scale cracking pressure, passing the stock with the scale broken thereon past blasting instrumentalities while rotating the stock about its longitudinal axis, thereafter causing simultaneous rotation and progress of the stock under tension efiective in the direction of its longitudinal travel, as the stock progresses exerting uninterruptedly thereon pressure applied upon areas of progressively increasing width, and simultaneously throughout the progress of the stock subjecting it to a succession of straightening steps in whiclrthe stock is acted upon by forces producing a straightening 13; The herein described method of finishing rounds which comprises subjecting the stock to scale cracking pressure so directed as to exert a straightening effect on the stock,

passing the stock with the scale broken thereon past blasting instrumentalities while rotating the stock about its longitudinal axis, thereafter causing simultaneous rotation and longitudinal progress of the stock under tension effective in the direction of its longitudinal travel, as the stock progresses exerting uninterruptedly thereon pressure applied upon areas of progressively increased the a width, and simultaneously throughout the progress of the stock subjecting it to a succession of cross roll straightening steps in which the stock is acted upon by flexing forces producing a straightening bend or wave.

In testimony whereof T have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE A. WISE. 

